Fic: 'Stormalong' (4/8 - J/E - 'R')

[dwgm]

Chapter 4, with thanks to hereswith for editing, and to erinya for advice about the rating. This one's definitely 'R'.

~ Stormalong ~

Chapter One: Errand
Chapter Two: Disaster
Chapter Three: Shadows


Chapter Four: Persuasion

Jack returned to the Pearl, alone and unsmiling, in the late afternoon. Some of the crew were helping with repairs already, along the waterfront, but when they saw their captain headed toward the ship they dropped what they were doing and followed him back. He boarded, strode to the companion to the quarterdeck, trotted halfway up, then turned and leaned one hip casually on the rail, facing them. They gathered, just below.

"Is she ready to come away, Captain?" Mr. Gibbs opened, doubtfully.

"Excellent question, Mr. Gibbs. I'm thinking not, but I shall do my best to persuade her of the advisability of that course this evening. If you'll please see to a nice light supper for us, and a bath prepared for her, I'll see to the rest of the arrangements."

As he'd expected, there was a ripple of amusement. Jack let it die down, and then continued.

"However, unless me powers of persuasion are more persuasive than that moral compass of hers, it's all too likely she'll dig in her heels and refuse to accompany us back to uncivilized parts. If that's the case, I'll be staying, too, I reckon."

"We'll all be stayin'!" asserted Ragetti, and a chorus of ayes followed.

Jack did smile a bit then. "That right? I must admit, I'm very glad to hear it, very glad indeed. But I want you all to consider." He pointed a long finger at them. "This plague they've got here is no laughing matter. Any one of us could be struck down. It's a gamble, for each and every one of us, and if any man's not full willing to lay his life on that particular line I won't hold it against him, and nor will any of you, savvy?" He paused for effect, then said, "See me at the end of the morning watch if you'd like to leave. It wouldn't come amiss to send a message to the Cove, and they've a nice little schooner available for commandeering."

The men looked around at each other, but none spoke. Still, one never knew what council the night would bring.

Jack said, finally, "All right, back to work. Her Nibs'll be here before dark and I want all to be ready for her. Off you go, now!" And he straightened and shooed them to their tasks with a flutter of fingers.

*

Jori walked Elizabeth down to the waterfront just at sunset, then bid her "Bonne nuit!" and returned to the church and his duties. Elizabeth wearily wondered if he ever slept, and, for perhaps the hundredth time, found herself admiring his unflagging good humor and energy. The sight of the Black Pearl and the Empress, settled for the night in a safe harbor, was always a sight to lift her heart, but it had rarely been more welcome than it was at present.

She knew, of course, that Jack would argue with her, try to persuade her to leave the people of Île Sainte-Thérèse to whatever fate had in store for them, but she also knew that she had only to stand firm. She had been relieved he had not seemed angry, as she had half expected he might, and that he had not insisted they speak in private earlier. Showing him the situation had been far more effective than any words she might have conjured. But had it been effective enough? There were so many reasons to stay but, even if no other point swayed him, surely he would admit that repairing the rift between Cove and Île was a most desirable outcome.

Lord, she was tired. Too tired to hold her own in any sort of brangle with Jack. All she wanted to do was wash the sweat and grime from her body and sleep, dreamless, for a year.

But one could not help but feel less downhearted when there were greetings coming from various members of both crews as one walked the length of the wharf, past the Empress and on to the Black Pearl. A couple of men were busy lighting the Pearl's lamps, on transom, deck, and high on each yard-end, a cheering sight. And Mr. Gibbs was waiting for her at the top of the gangplank.

"Sure, it's a fine evening, Miss Elizabeth. Welcome aboard the Black Pearl."

Her mouth twisted in a wry smile at the old form of address, and at the echo of Barbossa's ominous words, uttered so very long ago, but she thanked Gibbs and headed toward the Great Cabin, determined to at least look the epitome of calm strength in confronting Jack.

This resolve lasted until she went in and closed the door behind her.

As her eyes adjusted to the light, she took in the scene: the heavy brocade drapes over the gallery windows drawn not-quite closed, letting in a glimpse of the fading sunset; a few beeswax candles and lamps lit here and there, dispelling the somewhat gloomy grandeur; the big carved table laid with a cold supper – fresh fruit, bread and butter, a roasted fowl, and was that a plate of her favorite sweetmeats? The ornate porcelain-lined bathtub that Jack had pirated from a very irate governor's wife stood in one corner, wisps of steam rising from it, and a copper kettle of water kept warm beside it. In the other corner, the big bed was neatly turned down, its linens looking fresh and utterly inviting. And best of all, Jack was coming toward her, a glass of wine in either hand, eyes worried, but lips smiling.

Her own eyes stung with the threat of tears, and she bit her lip to stop a tremor as she took both glasses from him, setting them down on the small table by the door. And then she kissed him.

It was a long kiss, or a series of them, actually, scattered with murmured endearments, and heart-stopping, as Sparrow-kisses were wont to be: experience leavened with a revelation of the soul that never failed to astonish her. The feel of him, lithe and sleek and fit under the loose shirt… the scent of him, the taste… it fleetingly occurred to her that there was nothing else she needed in all the world at that moment but his arms about her, just like this.

At last, she clung to him and said, low and rather unsteady, "Jack… I'm going to stay."

He hugged her close. "It's a bad risk, darlin'."

"I know, but… I’m needed here.”

“You’re needed at the Cove, too.”

She bit her lip. “I know. But… there’s something else. My mother. She was ill of this, or something very like it, a year before she died. An epidemic in the village near our home. And I could do nothing! They would barely let me see her!

He tsked, gently. “And you a great lass of seven! What were they thinkin’?”

“It’s not funny!” Though it was, a little, of course. She pushed at his chest to straighten in his embrace. “My father tried to send me away to my Aunt Cecilia’s, in Kent, actually, but I jumped from the coach and ran back to the house before we were a quarter mile down the road. I made such a fuss that father finally threw up his hands and let me stay.”

“And you tell me he never beat you?” His eyes laughed.

She narrowed her own. “Never.”

“Pity.” He drew her close again and kissed her lightly, and one hand descended to fondle her backside suggestively.

She stiffened. “You –”

“Hmm?”

She gave it up. “Where was I?”

“Staying with your mum,” he said, desisting.

“Yes. I stayed. But they would not allow me to help. And the physicians… I can’t but believe they did her more harm than good.”

“S’pose they cupped her overmuch,” Jack said, morosely. “Or worse.”

“Yes.” Elizabeth swallowed hard at these grimmer memories. “She recovered, but not entirely. She was never the same.”

“And now…?”

She looked at him straightly. “Now I can do something! For the mothers, and for all of them.” She felt a tear slip down her cheek, and loosed one hand to swipe it away. “Jack… please.”

He was silent for a long moment, as though debating. But then he brushed the slight wetness left on her cheek with his thumb, and bent to kiss her forehead. "All right, love."

A weight seemed to lift from her heart.

*

He undressed her with his own hands while she sipped her wine, his eyes warm and then warmer as he bared her to his gaze, and she could not help but chuckle at him: rogue, dear friend, tender lover. He sat beside her on a stool as she bathed and soaked, "admiring the view", speaking with her of inconsequential things, his recent journey, gossip from the Cove, maintenance of the Pearl and the Empress. He refused her more wine, until she'd had a bite of supper – "Might fall asleep before I can ravish you, eh?" – and then brought the food to her when she complained of this churlish treatment. He fed her, bit by bit, like some cherished pet, and she gave a snort of amusement at the absurdity of it. But then he gave her another glass of wine, cool and crisp, and a little sweet.

She must have dozed briefly, for she was suddenly aware of the glass being taken from her hand. She flushed, and said, "You were right about falling asleep."

But he waggled his brows at her and grabbed the towel that lay ready. "Up! Up!"

He helped her to rise and step from the water. She toweled herself dry while he fetched her brush, a very fine one with a tortoiseshell back that she kept on the Pearl for such occasions. She stood still, trying not to think but only feel, as he plucked the pins from her hair and then brushed it out, carefully, thoroughly. But she could not help marveling at him, cosseting her one moment, freeing her to fly the next.

The brush was set down on the stool, and then he was there behind her, the sweep of his clothing all along her back and legs, his arms slipping 'round her, his hands beginning to move over her. A kiss on her shoulder. His palms warm over her breasts, then pinching, just enough to make her give a soft gasp at the shock that ran down her body. His left arm stilled her as his right hand ventured lower, a whisper over her skin, and lower still, light and ruffling, then pressing, teasing.

"Awake enough?" His voice purred against her ear.

She turned in his arms, laughing, undone. "Bed. Now!"

He grinned.

*

Some time in the midst of their coupling, their mood changed. Gentle play, and languorous caresses gave way to something more urgent. Something more desperate.

Thought had intruded. Elizabeth could see it in Jack's eyes and she knew he could see it in hers as well. There had been too much of everything, these last days, and too much death above all, but here was life, the essence of it. The chance of it.

They struggled and gripped, and then tore at each other, gasps and cries mingling, savage kisses, a bite here, a bruise there. They were close, now, close and Elizabeth clutched him to her when he would have pulled away, her eyes flashing, his dark ones gone wide with something that might have been fear or wonder, or both. And he gave in to her then, a spasm almost like rage crossing his features before he bent his head and slid his hand under her hips to pull her hard against him.

She cried out, arching and thrashing beneath him as the agony of that horizon came suddenly upon her, and then his lips found hers once more, muffling their cries as the wave broke over them, she felt him shudder and shudder, and she held him tight, clinging fiercely to life even as they drowned.

*

They were not asleep, not yet. The moon stole through the gap in the drapes, silent silver light pooling upon the black sole of the cabin. Elizabeth stirred slightly against Jack's side, needing that keener awareness of his body, warm and alive, and pressed against hers.

His eyes were closed, his lashes, dark and full enough to cause a woman envy, fanned against his high cheekbones, but he groped and found her hand, and brought it to his lips.

"Jack…"

He turned his head, regarding her now. "Mmm?"

"If the worst should happen… if I should fall ill, and…" She hesitated, but he turned over onto his side to face her.

"I'd take you out," he said. "To Will."

She loosed her hand and reached up to run the backs of her fingers light over the edge of his beautiful face. "And Jamie?"

His eyes softened. "Wouldn’t be easy for him. But he’ll do, whatever happens. I can promise that much."

Elizabeth nodded. Jamie was loved – hedged ‘round with it sometimes.

And their lives were uncertain, even at the best of times.

Jack lay back, drawing her close again. She let go at last, the beat of his heart steady beneath her hand, and drifted into dreamless sleep.



On to Chapter Five

Comments

[dharma-slut.livejournal.com]

You're making me nervous already....

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

You should be. ;)

[erinya.livejournal.com]

I'm nervous too! All that foreshadowing!

You already know I love this chapter. :-) I really like the bit with Jack talking to the crew, just because I can see him waving them off in my head. We see them in so many modes of intimacy here, the easy and the passionate, but I think my favorite part of all was this:

The feel of him, lithe and sleek and fit under the loose shirt… the scent of him, the taste… it fleetingly occurred to her that there was nothing else she needed in all the world at that moment but his arms about her, just like this.

*is a romantic, after all*

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Romance should not be underrated -- one of the sweetest things in life. :)

I'm so happy you enjoyed it -- thank you for rereading it yet again! I really appreciate that.

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

This truly is wonderful, the tenderness, the passion, and the sense of doom about to be unveiled. Or not :-)

And I loved this:

Elizabeth clutched him to her when he would have pulled away, her eyes flashing, his dark ones gone wide with something that might have been fear or wonder, or both

Unabashed romantic, here ♥

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

to be unveiled. Or not

There will be some interesting times in store for them, and not all of them in the bad way.

I'm so happy you enjoyed the romantic interlude! Thank you for letting me know.

[obfusc8er.livejournal.com]

Hm. There is a sort of plague miasma hovering like a hopeful scavenger over everything in this story. Nice work developing that atmosphere.

Elizabeth clutched him to her when he would have pulled away

I like the way you established their desperation and fear and sense of urgency, contrasted against the idyllic moment when Elizabeth entered the cabin. Very ominous.

Looking forward to more.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Nice work developing that atmosphere.

Thank you! I am so glad that's working. More coming in a few days -- it's daughter's birthday today, and the celebration extends through Sunday morning -- big party on Saturday.

*zooms off to birthday breakfast*

[torn-eledhwen.livejournal.com]

*Sighs happily* I hope this doesn't end badly. A lovely, lovely chapter.

French niggle-let: nuit is feminine, therefore it's Bonne nuit. :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the French and the comment! Very happy you liked the chapter. (And have I ever had a fic end badly?)

*scurries to correct*

[artaxastra.livejournal.com]

You've made me choke up and tear. Oh dear! They understand each other so well at this point, and have their dance down to art. Cosseting her at one moment and setting her free to fly. Just beautiful. And just exactly what I wanted to read tonight! You make me fall in love with them all lvoer again. I can't help but fall for the excellence of your storytelling.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I am very very happy you were able to take time out from your own work to read to read this, and I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the lovely comment! It's most appreciated.

*hugs you*

[p0wdermonkey.livejournal.com]

My anxiety levels are now soaring. Can Elizabeth not see the danger of history repeating a generation later? Am counting on your love of happy ends to make all well - eventually.

PS You've also made me want a bath and a glass of wine when all I can have is a cup of tea and a pile of proofreading. No fair!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

LOL! A cup of tea and a pile of proofreading really doesn't compare, does it?

And yes, you know how I love happy endings. Or at least not tragic ones. And there are several chapters before we get there.

Thank you so much for reading and for the lovely comment. I am very happy you're enjoying it!

[ladyheatherlly.livejournal.com]

This is a fantastic story! I can't wait to read the rest.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you! More coming in a few days. :)

[fried-flamingo.livejournal.com]

FYi I was indeed late for work because of this story and nwo I have time to post full, gushing praise :)

This chapter was such a superb portrait of the intmacy of Jack and Elizabeth's relationship. I love how he knows her so well in the first scene, and also the idea of him pampering her in the cabin is just beautiful (also the Jack descriptions are hothothot ;)).

The sex scene was wonderful, because not only did it reinforce their intimacy, it also spoke of this new development in their lives and the danger possibly facing them (danger that I really, really hope will be overcome!). The simple line 'thought had intruded' just expresses all t hat they're not saying here.

More please :D

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for the wonderful feedback! I'm so happy you enjoyed the chapter.

he knows her so well

It's fun to write them in a more established relationship for a change, even though this is a grim situation for them. Lots going on in the next chapters, but I like good endings. ;)

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

Amazing chapter! I loved it! You capture their personalities, their emotions, their thoughts & motives so well. It makes the story so beautifully iridescent...

*waiting impatiently for more* :)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I hope to have another chapter ready by Monday, but it's weemonkey6's birthday and the celebration is several days long -- big party on Saturday. But I'm hoping I'll have some time to write tomorrow, and finish up on Sunday.

I'm so happy you're enjoying it!

[sequence-fairy.livejournal.com]

Yay! Another fantabulous chapter! I really like this fic, I love the way you write Jack...he seems to just pour off the page into real life, and Elizabeth is also very vibrant. Well done!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

he seems to just pour off the page into real life, and Elizabeth is also very vibrant

What a wonderful compliment! I'm very happy to hear it seemed so to you. Thank you so much for reading and reviewing.

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

Well, I guess you know, I'm all about the lovin'! The evolution of their moods was well done, and an artful touch...even though the touching and tasting was enough to keep my interest. Dark-eyed and tasting good, indeed!

Gads, girl! YOu sure know how to do it to someone!

Interesting that Jack knew the answer before he even asked, but was compelled to try to 'persuade' her, only to instantly find out he had already lost. I would have thought he would have put up a little more arguement, but he does also understand the exhaustion and sheer determination. (Heaven help any man.......)

They are on the verge of becoming like two old married folks...and interesting examination. And with things much more foreboding to boot!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I would have thought he would have put up a little more arguement

He knows her pretty well, by now, and knows how and when to pick his fights. Sometimes you just have go with the flow, and wait for the opportune moment.

They are on the verge of becoming like two old married folks

In certain ways, yes. They've been together quite a while, and have been through a lot. The kinks have been worked out, mostly.

So glad you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for the thoughtful feedback -- it's greatly appreciated!

[mary684.livejournal.com]

Ahhh, finally have time to read this! Wonderful stuff. I love all the other characters running around in this, without over-describing them, you've made them come alive.

Very poignant that Elizabeth, now a mother who lost a mother, would want to stay and help the other women. I love how Jack knows her well enough to know she won't be dissuaded and how she feels relief at not having to fight him on it.

“And you tell me he never beat you?” His eyes laughed.

She narrowed her own. “Never.”

“Pity.”
Little asides like this just make me all smiley.

They are quite sweet and lovely together, it's nice to read that. And I guess I need to start worrying a bit that all hell's gonna break loose - damn!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Some hell will be breaking loose in the next chapter, yes. But there are good and bad surprises ahead, and I like happy endings, so no worries. More Teague coming up, too -- I get a kick out of changing points of view. I'm so glad you're enjoying it!

[this-weirdness.livejournal.com]

There is so much that is wonderful about this chapter: Jack with the crew, the crew themselves, Elizabeth's vulnerability, Jacks' tender loving care, their lovemaking, their honesty, their promises... I loved it all.

Favourite lines:

They were close, now, close and Elizabeth clutched him to her when he would have pulled away, her eyes flashing, his dark ones gone wide with something that might have been fear or wonder, or both.

and she held him tight, clinging fiercely to life even as they drowned.

There is something about death that makes life all the more liveable...

Great chapter, although I fear that things are going to take a turn for the worse...

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

There is something about death that makes life all the more liveable...

Very true, and that is what I was trying to say in this. I'm glad that came through.

Thank you so much for reading and commenting. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story!